Chapter 31 - Garden of Predators
Garden of Predators
Translator : Elizabeth
Chapter 31. Garden of Predators
As Veron appeared, the air in the banquet hall sank heavily in an instant.
Just a single person.
But the dignity of the North's apex and the eldest son was immense.
Even the minor spirits emitted by other Northern leaders were erased without a trace.
'Veron Ashuhalt.'
The pinnacle of Experts, a powerhouse on the verge of the Master realm beyond human limits.
He didn't bother to hide his power.
Rather, his proudly revealed spirit was sending a silent warning to the heads of influential families gathered at the banquet hall.
'It is 100 years too early for you bastards to covet Ashuhalt.'
The warning seemed to sound like that.
Even though he was a successor who hadn't ascended to the seat of the family head yet, it wouldn't be strange to call his presence already the head of a family.
Danel narrowed his eyes and watched the scene.
His heart beat a little faster than usual.
Not fear, but the thrill felt when facing an overwhelming powerhouse.
'Strong. Ridiculously so… Good thing I came to see him directly.'
Even that revealed spirit must be a part of his true skill. Danel felt his competitive spirit boiling up.
It was then.
From behind Veron's shadow, another cool gaze scanned Danel.
At the chilling sensation, Danel instinctively turned his head, but there stood only a woman calmly looking down.
She was none other than 'Lien Ashuhalt'.
The eldest daughter of the Ashuhalt family, and a super-strong powerhouse possessing skills comparable to Veron.
She was a monster enough to spark all-night debates among gossipers about who was stronger between Veron and Lien.
She didn't emit spirit outwardly like Veron, but Danel could feel it.
That she was also a monster.
Laughter flowed out in disbelief.
'Damn family. Two monsters like that, no, three including the Duke. Moreover, the siblings below are all similar to or above Vince.'
Furthermore, even among vassals not using the Ashuhalt surname, strong men comparable to them were scattered everywhere.
But a fishy smile hung on Danel's lips.
'Fun. Right, it should be at least this much to be worth crawling up.'
Veron climbed onto the podium and opened his mouth.
His voice containing Aura resonated in every corner of the banquet hall as if amplified.
"Welcome, everyone."
It was a calm first word.
Veron looked around the audience and smiled.
"Many attended. A sight clearly showing the North is still robust."
Veron raised his glass first.
"First, it would be proper to welcome those who came here and have a drink. For Ashuhalt territory."
As Veron recited so, the gathered nobles raised their glasses high and repeated.
"For Ashuhalt!"
Truly an arrogant attitude.
Usually, in a place like this, one would mention the glory of the Empire or the well-being of His Majesty the Emperor, but Veron did not hesitate to propose a toast for Ashuhalt.
Like that, Veron lowered his glass and continued speaking.
"Comrades of the North! It must be a fact known to all that the recent rampancy of barbarians and movements of beasts are unusual. But worry not. Our Ashuhalt will take the lead, and if your loyalty and swords are with us, no threat will cross the wall of the North. Today this place is a festival to strengthen our unity, so enjoy to your heart's content!"
As the short speech ended, the banquet hall regained vigor.
People lined up to catch Veron's eye, and the one occupying the very front line among them was, as expected, Julia Helmon.
She approached Veron maintaining an elegant smile.
"Long time no see, Young Lord."
Veron welcomed her gladly.
"Oh, isn't this the Lady of the Helmon family. Thank you for coming a long way."
Veron's reaction was perfectly normal.
A typical successor's appearance keeping appropriate distance while upholding the family's prestige.
Julia tried hard to penetrate deep into his eyes, but couldn't read any ulterior motive.
'No. Even if Veron is snake-like, acting perfectly to this extent is impossible. It's not this guy…?'
" is Marquis Helmon well these days."
"He said he grasped a clue to new enlightenment."
At those words, Veron admired as if pleased.
"Hoh! As expected of the Helmon family. I am relieved because you are here."
"Fufu, thank you. Since there are many waiting for Young Lord, I will greet you here."
"Hmm, do so."
Julia hurriedly finished greeting and approached Lien too, but the result was the same.
"Marquis obtained new enlightenment?"
"Yes, that's right, Lady Lien."
"Please convey my congratulations."
"I will definitely do so."
Turning her back to Lien, she bit her lip.
'What is it? What on earth? Am I being deceived? What am I missing?'
She began to fall into confusion more and more.
There was no way to know to whom the spy she sent was caught, or who on earth sent that secret letter.
In the heart of the cunning woman overconfident in her own insight, the poisonous weed called suspicion grew.
Fear settled in the place where the certainty of finding out the mastermind disappeared, and minute cracks began to form on the expression that acted perfection.
Danel tilted his champagne glass from afar and watched that sight joyfully.
'Kuk kuk, must be going crazy. Leave that to suffer a little more….'
Then auditory hallucinations of brothers were heard.
'Danel… why did your personality become so bad….'
'Quiet. Please stay inside for today.'
Turning his gaze like that, Lorraine's figure was seen.
Following Danel's advice, instead of the flashy central stage, she was approaching minor nobles of the frontier and conversing.
'Lady, surely among those people, there are those with ability and ambition. Make them allies. Show slowly what kind of person the Lady is.'
Recalling Danel's words, Lorraine listened to their stories sincerely.
Minor nobles hidden behind the giant name of Ashuhalt were evidently moved by Lorraine's unexpectedly polite and thoughtful attitude.
"Oh my, that's an amazing story. I'd love to visit sometime."
"It is truly an honor for the Lady to say so. If you visit our territory, we will treat you with utmost sincerity."
"Thank you. Baron Diet."
'Right, step by step. Just doing what I can do.'
Seeing that appearance, Danel nodded.
Lorraine had more talent for inducing conversation than expected.
Her thoughtfulness was becoming an excellent weapon breaking down people's wariness.
'Doing better than expected? This is an unexpected talent?'
When he was enjoying this banquet for a moment and lost in thought.
A cool voice feeling languid came from behind.
"Hmm~ Evaluating Lorraine? Don't know who the master is here?"
Danel's whole body stiffened.
Even though he was on guard, he felt no presence at all.
A sense of incongruity as if tearing space and appearing amidst the noise of the banquet hall.
Danel quickly managed his expression and turned his head slowly.
"Hi there~ You are Danel? Right?"
There stood a woman with let-down silver hair, having rough and dark blue predator eyes completely different from Lorraine or Arisa's.
'People who would approach me… there are few… then this person is….'
"Greetings… Lady Rose Ashuhalt."
At Danel's immediate answer, Rose opened her eyes round like a child.
"Hiyah…? You know me?"
"No, first time meeting today."
"Then how did you know it was me?"
"Aren't you very famous? Besides, nicknames like 'Genius of the Previous Generation' are still valid."
At Danel's provocative answer, Rose stayed blank for a moment, then burst into laughter hysterically.
"Kyahahaha. You, quite a thoughtful type, aren't you? Throwing several moves even in one word?"
Intention grasped.
But Danel's expression didn't change.
"Right, a guy like Lars couldn't have beaten a guy like this."
Her gaze was sharp as if digging into Danel's heart.
Fundamentally different from Ashuhalt siblings met so far.
"But speaking so arrogantly, I might kill you…?"
Raw killing intent like a wild viper choking the neck.
But Danel wasn't intimidated at all.
"Because a commoner without a surname must roll his head diligently as well as his body to survive."
At those words, Rose's facial muscles twitched again.
"Kyahahaha! I like you very much! I know why Vince, Arisa, and Lorraine fell head over heels."
Rose licked her lips with a red tongue and approached.
"Hmm~ You smell similar to me. You are too dangerous to release to those three good-natured guys? How about it, want to be my vassal?"
"……I apologize, but I decline."
Rose tilted her head as if really unable to understand.
"Why? Those guys and I are different. Whatever your goal is, being under me would reach it faster than Lorraine or Arisa?"
"Let's call it the pride of a gutter mercenary nobody."
Rose stared at Danel for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders.
"Hmm~ Is that so? Fine. I hate clingy things. Got rejected so I'll withdraw obediently."
"…Really?"
"Why, should I not go?"
"No. Please go."
"Wow, tone very brazen. Funny, you."
Rose smacked her lips again.
"Hmm… At first thought a lot about whether to bully like a toy and kill or what…."
She spat out bloody words nonchalantly.
Goosebumps rose on Danel's arm.
Meaning those words weren't a lie.
However, she said with an unmatching bright smile.
"Confirmed you're a guy too wasteful to kill… seems more fun to just let you live doing as you please. Then see you later, Danel~."
Watching Rose's back disappearing like wind, Danel sighed.
A category impossible to read what she's thinking. The most annoying type got entangled.
'Phew… truly a world full of monsters.'
When the banquet atmosphere reached its peak, Veron stood on the podium again.
"Now! As the banquet ripened, isn't it time to check the spirit of the North! Let's start the friendly duel! At this time when disquieting rumors circulate in the North, shouldn't we check which family prepared knights best!"
At Veron's declaration, the marble floor in the middle of the banquet hall changed to transparent glass by a magic device, revealing a giant circular training ground below.
Originally, friendly duels were places where nobles competed with skills directly, but now the nature of proxy war was strong.
A distorted form created by nobles' desire to show off their power while reluctant to step up directly as defeat would tarnish honor.
But as much as that, the knights each family sent out were 'real deals' staking family pride.
'Finally starting.'
Danel's eyes flashed. This duel wasn't simply a spectacle.
A golden opportunity to grasp the power of each family revealed here, and the subtle hierarchy among them.
Above all, Danel himself was ready to intervene in this board.
Amidst the real owners of the tiger's den watching, how far will he reveal his claws.
That scale began to move in Danel's head.
"Now! Which family will step up first!!"
Clang—!
"We will step up!"
The air in the banquet hall changed in an instant.
Desire to climb up, ambition, and greed.
Such sticky emotions began to fill the banquet hall.
And that was qualitatively different from the greed of gutter lives Danel had seen for 10 years.
Danel raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
'Killer atmosphere, this.'
It was a moment clearly revealing that this place was the garden of predators ruling the North.